or i or or or or the south africans are taking in a future with alex nelson mandela off the day that the country's first black president that the struggle against apartheid. normal people that the gathering of the family home in johannesburg when he died in the company of his family after a long illness he was ninety five. early this year he'd spent months in hospital with the money infection. the announcement last night was made by the current president. for those of the pickens. going out to see what he does someone do. the funding president. let him open to the nation. this deprives the pasta farm. his footy the new company or peas from elite. how tolerant. today is tuesday on the stage. hope to serve them all the lights people gathered to share the news and celebrate the life of the man who sold the end of white minority rule and symbolize reconciliation and peaceful coexistence with that at this day to day. i think the effect is pot tonight and he didn't feel well and about i keep calling it that all we could eat it with all of you know. yes it says that she gets it. i sit there

or i or or or or the south africans are taking in a future with alex nelson mandela off the day that the country's first black president that the struggle against apartheid. normal people that the gathering of the family home in johannesburg when he died in the company of his family after a long illness he was ninety five. early this year he'd spent months in hospital with

during which mandela will lie in state in the capital pretoria so south africans can say final good-byes before he's carried back to his ancestral village for burial. dan? >> thanks, alex. when nelsonears it represented much more than his personal freedom. it meant that he and all of those who fought so hard for him and his cause had finally won a major battle. but the broader fight was far from over. "nightline's" founding anchor ted koppel was there to speak with him soon after he was released. >> this is abc news "nightline," reporting from south africa, ted koppel. >> tonight we have only one guest, nelson mandela. most people would look at the last 27 years of your life and say to themselves, what a waste. what about you? >> that is true. to spend 27 years at the prime of your life is a tragedy. and i regret those years that i have wasted in prison. but there are very positive aspects too. because i had the opportunity to think about problems and to reflect on my mistakes. >> amazing. and over the years, mandela's special history with "nightline" continued. here's abc's chief foreign correspondent terry moran on the man who helped change so much. >> there is mr. nelson mandela

alex from pretoria tonight. >> reporter: good evening. nelson mandela has been lying in state in the government buildings up on the hill went home today. a cargo plane took off from pretoria escorted by two fighter jets. he was welcomed in the eastern cape with full military honors before being driven past huge cheering crowds to his home in the village where he grew up. tomorrow's funeral will be attended by 5,000 people, prince charles, jesse jackson, and after confusion, the archbishop desmond tutu who was an -- a close friend of his for decades and an outspoken critic of the current south african government. he will be buried in the smaller private ceremony that will officially mark the end of this chapter for south africa and for the world. >> thank you. >>> and a celebration of a milestone, landing an unmanned spacecraft on the moon. 13 day journey to get there. chinese tv showing an animation. the china joining the u.s. and russia as lunar explorers. >>> and from a moon shot to a long shot. so many hoping for a win in the megamillions. no winners

nelson mandela is being buried after ten days of mourning. his final resting place is in green hills of his boyhood home that he loved so much. abc's alexadt is there. >> reporter: good morning, bianna. nelson mandela was laid to rest just a short time ago, carried with full military honors to that village, qunu. buried near three of his children. that followed a much bigger funeral service attended by around 5,000 people, including oprah winfrey, richard branson the reverend jesse jackson and prince charles. it was a very moving tribute to mandela. lots of touching speeches by family members. i wanted to read you part of one, a fellow robben island inmate, he said today, now i have lost a brother, my life is void, and i don't know who to turn to, and bianna, i think that's how many south africans are feeling today. >> it's clear he had an impact on so many people's lives. can you talk about the mood, alex? is it a bit more somber? >> reporter: absolutely. after the news of mandela's death was announced, we saw a festive atmosphere, that memorial service at the fnb stadium earlier in the week was one, big party. but today, the mood is r

mandela." he spoke with author and journalist alex kotlowitz for about 45 minutes. nelsondela died on decembe december 5. >> thanks. this is a real treat to be here today with the. we are old friends. for those of you not familiar with his work, doug was formerly editor of "mother jones." doug and i are also colleagues at northwestern school of journalism. it's a thrill to be or to talk about his recent book, "after mandela" which i think is a beautifully written account of contemporary south africa. i think a profoundly important book. made we can talk some about the. i think it is profound import not on because it would help us understand what's taking place in south africa but i think it also, it has many lessons for us here in the u.s. as well as elsewhere. as countries emerge from years of tyrannical regime and they're trying to sort of find a way to some kind of democratic government, some kind of democratic system. thought that we would begin may be talking a little bit about mandela investment in use in the hospital now. i think it's fair to say that he is near dea

respects to nelson mandela as the questions intensified about that sign language interpreter, the man who was just inches from president obama. tonight new revelations about his mental state. abc's alex marquardt is there with him. >> reporter: as president obama paid tribute to nelson mandela, the man standing just three feet away says he was having schizophrenic hallucinations. tonight, sign language interpreter thamsanqa jantjie told us he was seeing angels. >> when did you know something was wrong that day in the stadium? >> it's when i see the angels coming into the stadium. >> you saw angels coming down into the stadium? >> yes. >> reporter: jantjie says he kept going, making signs we now know weren't real words. jantjie admits he's suffered schizophrenia in the past. >> have you had episodes in the past where you've been violent? >> yes. but now it's under control because i'm under medication. >> were you under medication on the day of the memorial service? >> absolutely. >> reporter: jantjie was given accreditation by the organizers but wasn't screened by the u.s. secret service. in fact, he said he was hired just the day before for an event attended by more than 100 current

nelson mandela. he was laid to rest in a small rural village that was his ancestral home. world figures traveling there to say good-bye. abc's alexquardt is in south africa again tonight. >> reporter: it was the solemn march that marked the end of nelson mandela's long walk to freedom. in the auditorium, 95 candles burned, one for each year of his life. ♪ bold-faced names filled the audience. oprah winfrey next to richard branson, and prince charles. mandela's casket stood atop traditional cowskins, his long life celebrated with all the pomp and ceremony due to south africa's greatest son. it was a day of deep sorrow. the country's mourning perhaps best summed up by mandela's close friend and fellow robben island inmate. >> and now, i have lost a brother. my life is in a void and i don't know who to turn to. thank you very much. >> reporter: a void that south africans tell us can never be filled. after a week of celebrating mandela's life with singing and dancing, it was really only today that many south africans realized that mandela is truly gone. david? >> alex, appreciate your reporting all week there. thank you. >>> on the s

nelson mandela memorial service. perhaps you saw. that first there was outrage that the man signing was allegedly just jibber. now new disturbing revelation about his mental state and violent past. alexs on the story. >>reporter: as president obama paid tribute nelson mandela, man standing just 3 feet away says he was having schizophrenic hallucinations. tonight sign language interpreter told us he was seeing angels. >> when did you know that something was wrong take day in the stadium. >> when i see the angel come to the stadium. >> angel down into the stadium. >> yes. >>reporter: he said he kept going. making signs we now know weren't real words. he admits he suffered many schizophrenic attacks over the years. have you had episodes in the past where you have been violent. >> yes but i was under control because under immediate kaichlingts were you under medication on the day of the memorial service. >> absolutely. >>reporter: he was given accreditation by the organizers but wasn't screened by u.s. secret service. in fact he said he was hired just the day before for an event attended by more than 100 current and former head of state. south african government told abc news they don't

nelson mandela is back home. hometownarrived in his in south africa today. it is ahead of his burial tomorrow. alex has more. >> it is been a week of national mourning. three days of lying in state in the government buildings on the hill. now he has gone home. this morning, a cargo plane escorted by fighter jets carry the body of the anti-apartheid leader to its final resting place. he was greeted with full military honors before driving back to his home where he grew up. 5000 people are inspected to attend tomorrow's funeral, including prince charles and reverend jesse jackson. after confusion over invitations, archbishop desmond tutu. the funeral will be followed by a small private burial marking the end of the age of nelson mandela. >> lamar alexander has fired his chief of staff after he was arrested in a child pornography case. horace holmes has more on the story. >> handcuffed and escorted out of his home by police, he remained silent as officers waste in the back of their cruiser. the chief of staff for lamar alexander, use charged with dealing child pornography. >> he was a quiet guy. just

alex. >> hi, thomas. we are honoring life, legacy of nelson mandela. clyburn, get thoughts on his legacy nobel peace prize laureate and speak about his influence on civil rights. all that when "now" starts right after this. which rewards her for responsibly managing her card balance. before receiving $25 toward her balance each quarter for making more than her minimum payment on time each month. tracey got the bankamericard better balance rewards credit card, which fits nicely with everything else in life she has to balance. that's the benefit of responsibility. apply online or visit a bank of america near you. if hey breathing's hard.me, know the feeling? copd includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. spiriva is a once-daily inhaled copd maintenance treatment that helps open my obstructed airways for a full 24 hours. spiriva helps me breathe easier. spiriva handihaler tiotropium bromide inhalation powder does not replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms. tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, glaucoma, trouble urinating, or an enlarged

nelson mandela. halt the mini and south africans living in this country and some of them accompanied to the nbc today alex and kate should be its teeth and coughing up my data and cooked to beat the flooding in from elsewhere see the royal family prince when he and friend tom holt as coles had an extraordinary and inspiring man. the queen has taken the snow to be talking of the great wall she feels when she thinks of months out of saying he weds time to think that his country and that these legacy is the peaceful south africa that we see today. i'm too difficult to beat the flooding in from pool a of the twelve lead in this country by david cameron. he called month that towering they got to train people here and sets a great life has gone out. woo hoo. this is all the minor round. justin has had to make amends for a taco in ninety seven mile trip back to the fountain that the threat that the anc can never rule south africa anyone who's to say was living in cloud and pianist david cameron is also a brown that might make a trip to south africa as a rising star nick has had to meet friends at anzac day when

nelson mandela was finally free. today harked the end of mandela's extraordinary life from political activist to prisoner to the man who helped set this nation free. alex>> all right , richard engel, thank you so much. what a beautiful backdrop behind you. thank you. >>> there hay be red-faced parents in italy today. look at what this little boy did at the vatican when he met pope francis. he grabbed the skull cap and the am pope enjoyed it. the boy didn't get to keep it as the pope put it where it belongs. >>> more people are moving to cities. office politics also with veteran nbc correspondent martin fletcher. you will hear the question i asked that the surprised him and left him speechless. >>> i have personally raised the issue not only at the highest level that i have been involved with, but also through other intermediaries. we don't have any meeting with anybody who has something to do with iran or an approach to iran where we don't talk to them about how we might be able to find not just mr. levinson but two other americans that we are deeply concerned about. the iranian government has the the ability help us here. we hope they will. >> that, o

nelson mandela, a symbol of forbearance, peace and dignity. we have pictures from south africa, where people have been celebrating the former leader's life, by chancing through the streets overnight. >> alexarquardt is there, where they're trying to come to grips with the death of an icon. >> reporter: there's a profound sense of loss and mourning that's swept the entire country. celebrations like this one, right outside mandela's home, we've seen spring up around the country. south africans marking the passing of this great man by celebrating his life. it was just before midnight that south african president jacob zuma announced to the nation and to the world, that nelson mandela had died. >> this is the moment of our deepest sorrow. our nation has lost its greatest son. >> reporter: tributes quickly poured in from around the world, including from president barack obama. >> we've lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth. >> reporter: that love, shown in the massive crowds that quickly gathered outside mandela's home and around the country. singing and dancing, joyfully celebrating the life of a man who

nelson mandela's memorial. the outrage now is not just that he may be a lousy interpreter but his disturbing past. >> alex marquardtsident obama paid tribute to nelson mandela, the man standing just three feet away says he was having schizophrenic hallucinations. the sign language interpreter told us he was seeing angels. when did you know something was wrong that day at the stadium? >> when i saw angels coming down to the stadium. >> reporter: you saw angels coming into the stadium? >> yes. >> reporter: he kemt going, making signs -- kept going, making signs we now know weren't real words. he admits he suffered many schizophrenic attacks over the years. have you had episodes in the past where you have been violent? >>> yes, but now it's under control because i'm on medication. >> reporter: were you on medication the day of the memorial service? >> absolutely. >> reporter: he was given accreditation by the organizers but not screened by u.s. secret service. in fact, he said he was hired just the day before for an event attended by more than 100 current and former heads of state. the south african government told ab

alex, thank you. >>> president obama called himself one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from nelson mandelathe white house and across the country to be lowered to half staff. karen travers has reaction from around the world. ♪ >> reporter: outside of the home where nelson mandela died, they sang in memory and mourning. >> great fighter, strong man. >> reporter: south africa's president delivered the long dreaded news. >> our nation has lost its greatest son. our people have lost their father. >> reporter: president obama praised the man he called a personal inspiration. >> we've lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth. >> reporter: that sense of historical loss ranged from royalty. >> extremely sad and tragic news. we are reminded what an extraordinary and inspiring man nelson mandela was. >> reporter: to regular people. >> is there a man who has more people aware of what he has contributed? >> reporter:. >> reporter: as a young man, nelson mandela faced daily humiliation of living under apartheid a syst

nelson mandela is being remembered. >> well, thank you for having me on in this important period. i have to tell you, alex, be there is a' celebratory mood in some parts of south africa. i spent a few hours in the township of soweto outside of the home that president mandela lived in before he was arrested and taken to robben island. there was such jubilation in the streets and a sense that it was time to come together and celebrate this great leader's accomplishments and to look towards the future of freedom, justice and democracy here in south africa. so there are some somber aspects but there's also a celebratory mood, as well. >> yeah, i so appreciate the joy that is emanating from there. i have to say that i read with a chuckle about the first time that you met mr. mandela back in 1990. i want you to tell people because you were literally star struck. >> i absolutely was. i've been blessed to be around some phenomenal people, some great leaders, but there's no one like nelson mandela. so yes, the first time i was in his company was immediately after we had organized a glorious ticker tape for him par

alex. >> all right. well, we know he's coming home and safe and sound. that's the good news there. >>> now to south africa. the nation plans a final farewell to its most famous son. funeral arrangements for nelson mandelauesday in johannesburg. and the funeral the 15th. >> and air force one will make that trip. former president bill clinton and hillary clinton also expected to attend. no word yet if president obama will fly with presidents obama and bush. >>> weighing on on where he ranks of towering figures the last 100 years. take a listen. >> i think he and gandhi and in america martin luther king are in a category by themselves. gandhi and king were martyred. but the agonizing ordeal of nelson mandela for 27 years and how he came out a better man than when he went in captured the imagination of people as nothing else had. his enduring power is that he showed us that there is true freedom in forgiveness. >>> joining me now, civil rights leader and president of the rainbow push coalition, reverend jesse jackson. awfully glad to speak with you. you listened to president clinton. do you agree he belongs in the statues of history with gandhi, martin luther king jr. if not maybe at the top of the list? >

alex? >> all right, kristen welker. thank you. >>> in just a moment, david dinkins joins us with his thoughts on his dearly departed friend nelson mandelaur credit. good. i hate surprises. surprise! at discover, we treat you like you'd treat you. get the it card and see your fico® credit score. mmm! this is delicious katie. it's not bad for canned soup, right? pfft! [ laughs ] you nearly had us there. canned soup. [ male announcer ] they just might think it's homemade. try campbell's homestyle soup. gives you a long-lasting fresh breath feeling. so you have the courage to jump in... go in for the hug... or make sparks fly. for a fresh breath feeling that lasts up to 5x longer, get scope outlast. >>> on the calendar it may not be officially winter, but don't tell that to folks in washington, d.c. look at the capitol and the white house. pretty as a picture as snow is falling. it's a little treacherous. icy conditions may be coming their way in washington. we know we're expecting them here in new york and north in boston, also in philadelphia. so pretty as a picture, but don't let it deceive you. we'll give you updates on weather at the b